Does Silva have a foe?

Monday

Feb 3, 2014 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - The mayoral race of 2016 might seem far too distant for most to give it much thought, but campaign dollars already are pouring into the accounts of a possible challenger to Mayor Anthony Silva.

Roger Phillips

STOCKTON - The mayoral race of 2016 might seem far too distant for most to give it much thought, but campaign dollars already are pouring into the accounts of a possible challenger to Mayor Anthony Silva.

San Joaquin County Supervisor Steve Bestolarides, who last year formed a campaign committee to explore a mayoral run, already has amassed a $134,000 war chest in the event he decides to pursue Stockton's top elected office. By contrast, Silva's committee opened and closed the second half of 2013 with a negative cash balance of $1,204.

The campaign finance information became available last week as candidates met a Friday deadline to file required disclosure forms with City Hall.

Three City Council seats will be contested five months from today when primary elections are held. But Friday's disclosures also revealed the likelihood of a financial chasm in a possible 2016 primary election 29 months from now between Silva and Bestolarides.

Silva responded by text message last week when asked about Bestolarides' monetary head start.

"Residents will not allow someone to buy this position," he wrote. "The person that raises the most money and has the endorsement of the local newspaper does not always win."

Bestolarides, 57, just began his second term on the Board of Supervisors and said he has not determined whether he even will run for mayor in 2016.

Nearly $60,000 of Bestolarides' mayoral committee's balance was transferred from the committee from his run for supervisor. Another $25,000 came from Alex Spanos and other members of the Spanos family, according to the disclosure documents.

"In public service we develop relationships and in life we look at relationships," Bestolarides said when asked about the donations he has received. "I look at this support as support I enjoy."

N. Allen Sawyer, a Silva consultant, reacted with sarcasm when asked about Bestolarides' early financial advantage.

"It's highly unusual to get elected to a four-year term and start campaigning a week after you're elected," Sawyer said. "The Board of Supervisors must not have much to do."

Bestolarides said he is completely focused on his work as a supervisor and added, "(Silva) needs to be mayor, I need to be a board member, and I don't have any concern about what Mr. Sawyer or anyone else says."

More immediately, June primary races are taking shape:

» In District 1, incumbent Elbert Holman, reported $24,000 in contributions, the largest of which was $1,500 from the Northern California District Council of Laborers Political Action Committee. Opponent Rick Grewal, a businessman, reported $29,000, including $5,000 from a Santa Maria physician.

» The race in District 3 to replace Paul Canepa might be the most wide-open.

Ernesto Gonzalez, a nonprofit worker, has said he plans to run and filed a form last week restating his intent. He did not file contribution information.

Meanwhile, union organizer and graduate student Motecuzoma Sanchez said Friday afternoon he plans to run, but he has not yet formed a committee. Stockton Unified Trustee Steve Smith, a rumored candidate for Canepa's seat, said he will decide on a run within 30 days. Sawyer said a fourth, undisclosed candidate still is contemplating a run. Canepa's term is expiring and he is running for the Board of Supervisors.

» In District 5, incumbent Dyane Burgos Medina reported $9,500 in donations, including $1,500 from Jane Butterfield, recently retired president and chief executive of Community Bank of San Joaquin. Christina Fugazi, a high school teacher and city planning commissioner, raised slightly more than $4,000, including $1,500 from the San Joaquin County Deputy Sheriff's Association. Fugazi was a runner-up one year ago when Burgos Medina was appointed to the seat.

The filing period to run for City Council is from Feb. 11 to March 6. A fourth seat will become open later this year if District 2 Councilwoman Kathy Miller is elected to the Board of Supervisors.

Miller has two years remaining in her term on the City Council. If she is elected as a supervisor, her replacement would be appointed by the council.

Contact reporter Roger Phillips at (209) 546-8299 or rphillips@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/phillipsblog and on Twitter @rphillipsblog.

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